World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseIn response to the Japanese occupation of northeastern China, Heilongjiang provincial governor Ma Zhanshan, desite orders to avoid direct confrontation, chose to hold the Nenjiang Bridge over the namesake river, Nen, near the town of Jiangqiao. The bridge had already been heavily damaged in previous fighting between Nationalist and Communist forces. On 4 Nov, a Japanese repair crew escorted by 800 troops attempted to repair the bridge when 2,500 of Ma's troops appeared. While it was not known who fired the first shot, the two sides fought across the span of the bridge for hours; casualties were light, 15 Japanese and 120 Chinese killed. Unable to push back the Japanese despite numerical superiority, Ma ordered his troops to fall back to organize a counterattack, which failed to recapture the bridge. Although Ma ultimately gave up on the attack after the Japanese reinforced with tanks and field guns, he would be lauded as a symbol of resistance against Japanese aggression.

ww2dbaseOn 15 Nov 1931, Japanese troops began to threaten Ma's headquarters at Qiqihar, Nenjiang Province, China; offered a chance to surrender, Ma turned it down. On 17 Nov, 3,500 Japanese troops under General Jiro Tamon attacked, engaging Chinese defenses at the village of Sanjianfang in sub-zero temperature, penetrating the defensive line before nightfall. To preserve his strength, Ma began evacuating Qiqihar on 18 Nov, forming a new defensive position at Baiquan and Hailun to the east by 19 Nov, holding there for some time before falling back again.

Photographs

Battle of Qiqihar Timeline